Newington To Choose Panel To Study School Busing Policy

October 12, 1995|By KAREN SCHMIDT; Courant Staff Writer

NEWINGTON — The school board decided Wednesday to set up a task force to examine the school system's bus transportation policy.

The move came in response to concerns from parents, mostly in the Elizabeth Green School district, who are concerned about young children who don't get bus transportation if they live within a mile of the school.

``I'm asking you to be proactive rather than reactive on this,'' said John Pergolizzi, the parent of a 6-year-old who is expected to walk to Green.

``Money is tight everywhere, but I don't think we can put a price on the well-being of our children,'' said parent Molly Wentworth.

Several parents of Elizabeth Green students spoke about their concerns, including traffic on Connecticut Avenue, a pathway through a wooded area that some children are expected to use, and the positioning of crossing guards.

Board Chairman Joseph J. Marcellino III said he would put together a committee by the middle of next week that would include board members, parents and representation from the town council and police department. The committee would be asked to suggest short- term solutions for the current year in time for the board's Nov. 29 meeting, and also work on a long-term plan.

Superintendent Ernest Perlini told the board that providing school bus transportation for all students through eighth grade would initially cost $475,559, including $387,000 to buy nine new school buses. The upgrade would continue to cost about $88,000 a year, although the town would save $60,000 because it would no longer need crossing guards.

Some parents said they would be willing to pay more if it meant their children could be bused to school, but Perlini told the board the service would either have to be extended to all students in a certain category, or to none.

``It's not, those that can afford it can have it and those that can't afford it can't have it,'' he said.

The town now offers transportation to all kindergartners and to first- through fourth-graders living more than a mile from the school. Fifth- through eighth- graders are bused if they live more than 1 1/2 miles from their school, and high school students get transportation if they live more than 2 miles away.

In the current school year, 374 elementary schoolchildren and 522 middle schoolchildren walk to school.

Brenda Edwards, who was one of 22 parents who signed a letter to Perlini about the walkers to Elizabeth Green School, appeared heartened Wednesday that the board was taking some action. ``They're making a move on it,'' she said.